Transfer Shock At Newcastle

Rafa Benitez said yesterday that if Newcastle get some offers in this month for veteran goalkeeper Tim Krul then they will consider selling him.

It looks like Tim will be the odd man out of the five goalkeepers we currently have – Tim, Matz Sels, Karl Darlow, Rob Elliot and 19 year-old England U-19 International Freddie Woodman.

Simon Smith, Karl Darlow and Tim Krul in pre-season training We were hoping that Tim could fight his way back into the first team before the end of the year as he is on his way back to full fitness, after his devastating ACL knee injury that he picked up playing for the Netherlands last October.

But Rafa made it clear yesterday that Tim, who is in the last year of his contract on Tyneside, will be sold if we get a decent offer coming in for him this month.

This is what Rafa said:

“Tim has one year left on his contract and we have five keepers are the moment, he’s coming back from injury, training hard and improving.”

“If he has to compete he is a very good goalkeeper and so it won’t be too hard – but we have Rob Elliot in a similar situation.”

“We have Sels now, we have Darlow and we have Woodman, so we can’t keep five keepers for the whole season.”

“If we can have a solution before the transfer window ends, he is getting fitter but it depends if anyone is interested, if they are, we will listen to them.”

“We couldn’t make the same mistake as last season when we had just one single goalkeeper and we had a problem.”

“We knew that he was getting fitter, but we didn’t know when, with Elliot it was the same and so we needed to bring a keeper in.”

It looks like Newcastle will not offer Tim a new deal and he will be another high wage-earner off the books either this summer or in January.

Everton manager and fellow Dutchman Ronald Koeman could be interested in Tim, but whether he will risk signing him this month before he is fully fit is debatable.

We don’t think he will, but Tim could go next January in a cut-price deal with only six months left on his contract at Newcastle at that time.

That would allow Tim to get a good deal somewhere and he deserves that for his good service to the club.

The 28 year-old joined Newcastle from ADO Den Haag back in the summer of 2005 as a 17 year-old when Graeme Souness was the manager and he has played 185 times for Newcastle.

This still comes as a surprise to us, although the writing was probably on the wall – so to speak.

Once Rob Elliot is fit again around the November time-frame it looks like it’s either Matz Sels or Rob who will be the number one goalkeeper at Newcastle.

Who would be shocked if we sold Krul, I certainly wouldn’t, he has never been the same keeper since he done his shoulder in against Sunderland, the odd good game usually at Three Point Lane, but apart from that he has been mediocre for a very long time, he’s been great for us but football and sentiment aren’t a good mix, look at the Colo nightmare, so we have to get rid asap.

Laurent/ Gorgonzola/ off key/ What an unnecessary daft comment. Jimmy has been trail blazing saying from before the window opened that we should break the mould and suggesting various options as to how it might be achievable. He/ we still have a few cards to play. He doesn’t need you to tell him what usually happens! The laboured point is that you don’t improve your team by selling your best players. Particularly a club with aspiration that should they be successful going forward will be buying into an inflationary market.

Rafa has earned respect and the trust of several massive clubs for his achievement of success over a long period. That’s why most folk are cutting him slack and giving him the required time to put the house in order. The aforementioned results against relegation rivals aren’t really a fair judgement of his abilities in my opinion.He inherited a squad bereft of confidence and shot to bits by previous goings on. A squad that was drifting towards relegation anyway. And he nearly pulled it off. Which would have been a minor miracle.

Unfortunately Tin Krul has as Spoof has already mentioned been going back since his shoulder injury,time to sell him as soon as he’s back to fitness.A new challenge for him might just give him the incentive to get back to his best.

It seemed bleedin’ obvious, did it not, that the arrival of Sels signalled the departure of Krul. It was just a matter of when. As an aside, I’ll be surprised if Sels is our first choice by the end of the season. Looks every inch one of those dodgy continental-type-keepers from what I’ve seen so far. (Krul is one too, but a better class of one than most)

Agree that Krul is the top candidate for departure. I don’t know but assume he is the best paid keeper we have, and his contract is running down. He has international experience but is injury prone and not the keeper he was.

and I am also cutting him some slack, if you read back a thread or two you will see that, the response you’ve commented on was due to Jib bigging up the Man City, Liverpool and Spurs performances under Rafa which were great, but what I was doing was bringing reality to those results so we don’t get carried away, as yet Rafa hasn’t improved us, I doubt that anyone could disagree with that, I do think he will, I honestly do believe that but we should not expect improvement to be a formality because in football it never is !

I dont need to have any interaction with him especially regarding speed reading.

On that subject, your sarcasm is evident but once again, you missed the point of my original.post.

If I can simplify it in dot point fashion for you:

. We are a chanpionship club presently . We are no longer able to hang on to our best players. . Players/agents now hold the trump cards in where they want to play. . As a club, even if we were still in the premiership, due to years of mismanagement, we have been bypassed by many clubs resulting in NUFC being nothing more than a club that at best, makes up the numbers. . Geographically, we have trouble competing for the best players and when we do attract them, it is usually at iver inflated salaries and promises of transfers to bigger clubs.

I could go on and on but quite simply, for a number of reasons, NUFC is decidedly knackered and will take some fixing.

Fortunately, we have Rafa, a manager with a great track record, a weslth of experience and a determination to succeed.

It will take a few years and maybe a new owner but hopefully, in my lifetime, I might get to see the club win something at the top level.

jib im not so sure pardew will be there much longer,so not sure if they’ll let him sign anyone for huge cash….palace fans are not happy….2 wins in 22 league games……could only be a game or 2 away from the boot.

We are approaching another cross roads I feel. We have a proven top quality manager now, remarkably he stayed on through relegation. No question it’s not going well right now, but we must stop this fire the manager and start again lark. It may not improve dramatically in the next couple of weeks, and if it doesn’t I hope the fans generally stay on board, ride it out and get right behind the team no matter what the results in the short term. Short term pain hopefully. It takes time to turn the lumbering juggernaut around after several years of mistakes. Howay the lads!!!

If Sissoko does feel desperate and sees Palace as his next home, you can imagine his comments:

‘I’ve always said I wanted to play in the Prem, at top level and have always dreamt of playing for a great London club. Crystal Palace provides that opportunity and to be reunited with their world class manager would be my dream has come true.’

As I was saying yesterday, as bad a start as we have had it is far too early to make any rash decisions, I seriously think that we should accept what happens short term and then take a closer look in November at the very earliest, by then we could be top of the league and flying, if not then as I say look at it then.

Expat- I do follow the logic of what you are saying particularly when it comes to the toon. The involvement and influence of Benitez at this time is vital. His failing could well cast us adrift once more on the stormy seas of Ashley’s whims.

Talk earlier by a number of Benitez’s achievements whilst at the toon!. He should not be judged too harshl and its early days.

He was faced with kick starting an underachieving group of players. That he couldn’t change. Recruitment was poor with neither Doumbia or Saivet being used by Benitez. Shelvey a recent recruit was dropped.

Going down meant that Rafa had to start his long term project from a lower baseline. Other observations we were unbeaten in our last 5 games in the PL but it took us 5 attempts to win three points. We cannot afford any such dalliance in the Championship. So the sooner we can focus on the squad going forward the better. Benitez does have an inherent cautious, defensive approach. I believe something Munster has pointed out on a number of occasions.

For all the AP devotees. You know who you are..! Where have I heard this before

– – – – – – – –

Savage comments as Crystal Palace fans are calling time on Alan Pardew

Crystal Palace fans on Alan Pardew: ‘The love affair is over with Alan Pardew…I cannot believe some still want him to stay’. alan pardew 1 hour ago by Jim Robertson

Crystal Palace fans weren’t very happy after the weekend, Alan Pardew presiding over a dismal performance and home defeat to West Brom.

That was just the cherry on the cake though, as it made it only two league wins out of the last 22 matches, a run that goes way back to December.

Upset about results, performances, tactics, transfer action…the Crystal Palace supporters look to have had their fill of the former Newcastle boss.

For those who still want to keep him, it appears to be due to a combination of pride, the fact Alan Pardew is a bit of a Palace cult hero, and that admitting he has to go means also admitting failure and starting all over again with a new manager.

What Crystal Palace fans have said about Alan Pardew via their top message board Holmesdale.net:

‘Pardew’s strategy of playing football with no tactics simply does not work.’

‘I cannot believe some still want him to stay, I have been of the opinion he needs to go for months.’

‘Crystal Palace’s league form in 2016 so far:

LLLLLDLLDLLDWDDLLWLL

How many more L’s do you want before replacing him?’

‘It would help if we could field a side where the majority of players could pass the ball quickly and effectively to each another.

Mediocre recruitment, mediocre coaching perhaps?’

‘If we lose on Saturday I think he will be sacked. He will be under enormous pressure and I think all the fans will turn on him. I’m beginning to think the Geordies were correct in saying he will do everything to rip the spine of the club apart. They said fans will turn on each other. I have seen that happen on here! I want him gone asap even if we beat Tottenham and that’s a big if.’

‘Personally I don’t back him, and I am not bothered if he is a ex palace player! All I want is a manager who will deliver results and not a cocky so and so who blames everyone but himself! Waiting until the 80th for subs and brining on a defender when you’ve gotta attack is beyond me!’

‘This thread is exactly how it was at Newcastle. The man will divide the support. It’s eerily familiar. The same problems follow him 3 years on.’

‘We needed a striker at the end of last season, why let Gayle go before we have a replacement?’

‘Pards is on probation big time Out in early October without massive improvement on last eight months.’

‘I’d rather he wasn’t sacked because it would mean we are doing okay, but I have lost confidence in him being able to create anything himself.’

‘It is the manner we lost. Pedestrian football. The same bullsh1t as per last season. An appalling run of going on for 30 league games with a couple of wins.’

‘Saturday was more of the same against a side that are going to be struggling at the bottom half of the table. It was such a frustrating game with the only bright spot for me being Andros Townsend, we’ve had Newcastle’s pants down getting him for £13m. It’s only the first game but we have won 3 league games this year, something is wrong. Sentimentally I love SupaAl for the good times as a player but with head not heart I think it’s time to face facts, he needs to go.’

‘What good times ? he was sh1t, always getting slagged off for being crap, that all changed of course when he scored in the Semi, not him being s***, just fans sucking it up.

Those of us that were going to games back then will know he just wasn’t that good a player, he’s turning out to be just the same as a manager.’

‘Said it before And I will repeat myself. Worst league form of any team in European professional football from December to the end of last season.

Has anything changed ? No.

We are bang in trouble, drop the 4-5-1 crap at home, it doesn’t work Pardew, or are you to dumb/arrogant/inept to see that ?’

‘If we ask the barcodes nicely they might lend us a few of their banners and whatnot, will come in useful in a few games.’

‘Went into the game with only 2 wins in 21 league games with only 1 new player (Townsend) on show and with no additional firepower up front so the result is hardly surprising.’

alan pardew

‘Are we going to turn into the vitriolic and bitter fans that we saw at Newcastle? More keen to boo and yell abuse at our (failing) manager than to cheer on our players… I truly hope not, or this is not the club that I’ve love to be a fan of over the last 30 years.’

‘Lol, it is time the fans wake up , 2 wins in 22 league games.Sack him now.’

‘All the agents know each other and obviously telling Benteke, don’t go to Palace as Pardew has lost the dressing room.’

‘The love affair is over with Alan Pardew, that’s the main reason we need to split asap. Even with the players we want, AP’s pissed off the team and has lost respect.’

‘Pardew has no tactics up his sleeve, my 14-year-old son said within the third minute of the game yesterday, wba are playing 3 at the back yet whenever we attack their whole midfield turns into a defensive unit. Yes an 14-year-old can spot that, no coaching badges or knowledge other than ea fifa to go by, yet can spot tactics and formations instantly. Pardew however, doesn’t seem to spot anything other than bizarre team lineups, weird half-time substitutions and slow to react opposition changes.

Hate to say it but Newcastle fans were absolutely right, they said early doors Pardew is inept and must go.’

‘With every passing game I become more disillusioned and see less and less in the manager having the slightest idea on how to turn things round.

People who want rid of AP are NOT basing their thoughts on one game but on the last twenty games.’

‘Pardew’s problem is his massive ego – why oh why was his name given out with the Team news before yesterday’s game? FFS we all know who the manager is !!!

Our problem is not just getting a new striker and Pardew has to take the blame for the team’s awful league performances for the last 8 months – that’s his job !!!’

I would start with Darlow today. Maybe Sals doesn’t communicate with back 4 correctly? I also think that captain armband is too heavy for Lascelles. He usually doesn’t do mistakes like last time… If Tiote is fit, he could start as well.

I suppose the trick is to lose as few of your better players as you can, even holding the key players to their deals, reinvest in full the money you get for the players that you cant keep in one or two good young players from a variety of leagues both here and abroad, the next Cabaye, Sissoko, Widjnaldum, Mitrovic, Perez, and perhaps an old head for a season or two, so you end up with a squad with fewer big names but counterbalanced by greater depth and balance and still significant talent.

Why is that fanciful for a club the size of Newcastle, managed by Benitez, and with a billionaire owner who recognises the urgent need to get back up, if only to promote his Sports stores?

We were able to attract Ritchie and Gamez, we could do with two or three more like that in key positions, and to hold onto Sissoko and Tiote, and I think we would have a squad as good as last seasons.

League Placement

health update

I was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in February 2017 and completed four months of chemotherapy in late July and will continue to have hormone treatment.

The cancer spread in the bones but it has been stabilized and has not spread further.

I am still recovering from some of the side effects of the chemo treatment - it's mainly severe fatigue and exhaustion.

Stage 4 cancer is not curable so I will continue to have cat scans and bone scans every four months to ensure the cancer is not spreading.

It is as it is - these things happen - and I will do my very best under the circumstances.

Ed Harrison

Comments

The purpose of the comments is to allow Newcastle United fans and others to express their views on the news of the day concerning the Newcastle United Football Club.

In general, we'd ask you to be civil towards other readers and refrain from obscene language and any comments on religion, ethnic groups or politics.

The key to all of this is to be respectful to other readers in expressing your opinion.

Please let's make this work - and let's help the Newcastle United Football Club become great again.

That's all we ask, and why we created this site in the first place back in 2007.

Ed Harrison

Kacper Tylenda Website Designer

One of our avid readers Kacper Tylenda from Poland was the person who came in during April, 2017 and redesigned this web-site from top to bottom.

We think he did a fantastic job to modernize the site with the roll-out on Thursday May 18th surprisingly smooth.

I am so appreciative of his help.

Kacper is starting his own business in web-design so if you want a website built or know of people who want to redo their sites in any way – here’s his portfolio.

football club

It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city. It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.